Yale SPORE in Lung Cancer News

The Reignited Cancer Moonshot launched by President Biden seeks to mobilize resources and forge partnerships in the fight against cancer with the goals of reducing cancer death rates by half within 25 years and improving the lives of both people with cancer and cancer survivors. As part of the Moonshot, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) has outlined a bold roadmap, the National Cancer Plan, to advance research and intervention strategies to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment, and to reduce cancer inequities. However, the historic bipartisan support in Congress for federal biomedical research funding has eroded. As a result, biomedical researchers are currently facing a crisis. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget is stagnant for the first time in eight years, jeopardizing further progress against cancer and a multitude of other diseases and health challenges.

The AACR Annual Meeting is the focal point of the cancer research community, where scientists, clinicians, other health care professionals, survivors, patients, and advocates gather to share the latest advances in cancer science and medicine. From population science and prevention; to cancer biology, translational, and clinical studies; to survivorship and advocacy; the AACR Annual Meeting highlights the work of the best minds in cancer research from institutions all over the world.

“There’s a lot more interest in vaccines” now that the technology is improving, said Roy Herbst, MD, PhD, deputy director and chief of medical oncology at Yale Cancer Center.

The members of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) have welcomed Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), Fellow of the AACR Academy, as the AACR President for 2024-2025. She was inaugurated today at the AACR’s Annual Business Meeting of Members, held during the AACR Annual Meeting 2024 in San Diego, California. LoRusso is a professor of medicine (medical oncology), chief of experimental therapeutics, associate cancer center director for experimental therapeutics, and leader of the Phase I disease aligned research team at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. An internationally recognized expert in drug development and early-phase clinical investigation of novel therapies, LoRusso’s innovative and tireless leadership has helped shape the field of translational and clinical cancer research and has greatly contributed to crucial therapeutic breakthroughs for patients with cancer.

A listing of recent publications by Yale Cancer Center researchers and clinicians in the first quarter of 2024

Yale Cancer Center annual Conclave in New Haven, March 26, 2024 include research and clinical awards. The four research awards are for: Clinical Cancer Research, Translational Science Research, Population Science Research, and Basic Cancer Research. Nine other awards are granted, including the Ruth McCorkle Oncology Advanced Practice Provider Award, the Class of '61 Cancer Research Awards, Clinical Excellence Award, Mentorship Excellence Award, Teaching Excellence Award, Service Excellence Award, Director's Awards, the Leadership in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Yale Cancer Center researchers will present their new cancer research findings at the 2024 AACR annual meeting. A few of the presenting YCC researchers offer their key study takeaways and the significance for patients and oncologists.

For a quarter-century, Conquer Cancer has strived to help early-career investigators turn promising ideas into lifesaving realities. Now, the foundation is embarking on an ambitious endeavor: to ensure the progress continues in perpetuity by raising 25 new endowments to fund Young Investigator Awards.

Declines in the death rate for breast cancer have furthered overall progress in cancer mortality.